DC Arc Flash Incident Energy Calculator
Pick a method — each is built from a different named source, with different inputs, a different validity range, and a different degree of conservatism. See Choosing a Method below if you're not sure which one applies to your equipment.
Four independently-sourced methods — see the citation at the end of each calculation's derivation, and the full comparison below. This is preliminary screening, not a substitute for a site-specific study by a licensed PE, especially given that DC arc flash guidance (including NFPA 70E's own annex) is still actively being revised in the industry as of this writing.
Choosing a Method
There is no single accepted DC arc flash calculation method the way IEEE 1584-2018 is the accepted method for AC arc flash — DC arc flash guidance is still an active area of research and standards revision. That's why this calculator offers four methods rather than picking one for you: Doan / NFPA 70E Maximum Power is the simplest and most conservative; Stokes-Oppenlander / Ammerman is iterative and tracks real test data most closely (and is therefore the least conservative); Paukert falls in between; and DGUV Information 203-077 (Germany) reports results in an entirely different framework — kilojoules against IEC Arc Protection Class thresholds, not cal/cm².
For the full breakdown — what each method assumes, its source and confidence level, when to use it, and a real conservative-vs-aggressive comparison — see Choosing a DC Arc Flash Calculation Method.
Related Calculators
This calculator's bolted fault current input is exactly what the Battery DC Short-Circuit Current calculator computes — run that first if you don't already have a fault current for your system. For sizing the battery string itself, see the DC Battery Sizing calculator. The full suite of eleven free calculators is available from the powerengcalc.com home page.
For engineering consulting, DC arc flash and battery room hazard studies, or forensic investigations, visit pefgconsulting.com.